The NWSL is back for year 14, and things are looking different. Without a college draft for the second straight year, 48 rookies have signed their first pro contracts as free agents. That's right—no more worst-team-picks-first system.
This new setup means top talent can land anywhere. The reigning champions? They can snag the best college players now. It's a whole new ballgame that could shake up betting markets and league standings in ways we haven't seen before.
So who are the newcomers worth watching? Let's break down five rookies who could make immediate impacts and maybe even surprise a few people along the way.
Maya Evans: Chicago's Defensive Solution?
The Chicago Stars had the leakiest defense in the NWSL last season—54 goals conceded. That's 12 more than the next worst team. Yikes.
Enter Maya Evans, a 21-year-old center back from Stanford. She's got serious pedigree too. Her mom played soccer at Stanford in the '90s, and Maya is actually a fifth-generation Stanford student. Talk about Cardinal royalty.
But here's the kicker—Evans spent her college career filling the shoes of Naomi Girma, one of Stanford's greatest defenders ever. She played over 7,000 minutes across four years and helped Stanford reach three national championship games.
Chicago already has veteran center backs in Sam Staab and Kathrin Hendrich, but both are on the wrong side of 30. Don't be shocked if Evans pushes for immediate playing time. If she can help shore up that defense, Chicago's over/under win totals might be worth a second look.
Jenna Dudley: Gotham's Scoring Machine
Here's something wild—the reigning NWSL champions just signed arguably the best forward in college soccer. In the old draft system, that never would've happened.
Jenna Dudley left Florida State a year early after scoring 30 goals and adding 29 assists in just 53 matches. That's a goal involvement every 59 minutes while winning two national titles. Absolutely ridiculous numbers.
Gotham's only guaranteed starter up front is 33-year-old Esther Gonzalez, who scored 13 goals last season. Dudley could slot in as a second striker or play as an inverted left-winger. Either way, she's got the talent to be the league's highest-scoring rookie.
Her former youth national team teammate Claire Hutton described her as "dangerous" and someone she'd "never want to be a defender against." That's high praise. If you're looking at rookie scoring props, Dudley should be at the top of your list.
Ella Klenke is heading home to Houston after four years at Notre Dame. The 21-year-old left back recorded five goals and 17 assists in 78 appearances—impressive for a defender.
Houston has relied heavily on Avery Patterson, but Klenke could provide balance on the opposite wing. As a former Texas state track and cross-country champion, she's got the speed and endurance to thrive in Houston's brutal climate.
Emerson McCormack might be the key to Denver's expansion success before USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps arrives in June. The 21-year-old midfielder left college early after winning a national championship with Florida State.
McCormack's specialty is breaking into the box on late runs from deep. Denver doesn't have many big-name midfielders yet, so she'll get plenty of opportunities to impress in those first 11 matches without Heaps.
Finally, Riley Paul joins the Kansas City Current after scoring 40 goals in 90 matches at Alabama. She's less heralded than others on this list—she hasn't played for US youth teams at major tournaments recently.
But Paul's got a silky first touch and she's adapting well to Kansas City's system. With Bia Zaneratto gone to Brazil and Temwa Chawinga's fitness uncertain, Paul could see significant minutes on the left side. At 5-foot-10, she offers versatility as both an aerial threat and a decoy to create space for others.
The free agency system has already created fascinating storylines. Top talent isn't automatically going to struggling teams anymore, which means competitive balance could shift in unexpected ways. Keep these five rookies on your radar—they might just surprise everyone.
